Geena Davis Says She Lost a Lead Film Role After Being Told She Was Not Attractive Enough
Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis has said she lost out on the female lead in 1985 comedy Fletch because she was “not attractive enough”. Talking to Dax Shepard on his Armchair Expert podcast, Davis opened up about a setback early in her career, and how it didn’t stop her from becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Geena Davis Was Considered for the Lead at First
Davis said she auditioned for the female lead opposite Chevy Chase in Fletch. The filmmakers liked her for her comedic talents, but apparently felt she didn’t fit the image they were looking for in the lead character. Rather, they gave her a much smaller role as the oddball chief of the mortuary, Larry.
Davis accepted the supporting role rather than rejecting the offer. She also pushed to keep the character named “Larry” even after the role was rewritten for a woman, helping to create one of the film’s memorable supporting turns.
Career not stopped by setback
Though losing the lead role was disappointing, Davis said it became just one chapter in her journey. In a few years she starred in hits like The Fly, Beetlejuice, Thelma & Louise and A League of Their Own.
She went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Accidental Tourist, and was nominated for another Oscar for Thelma & Louise, proving that early casting decisions don’t always determine an actor’s future success.
Interestingly, Davis was also positive about working with Chevy Chase on Fletch. She said Chase gained a reputation for being difficult to work with but he was funny, professional and a joy during filming.
A Reminder of Hollywood’s Shifting Rules
Davis’s story has sparked the conversation about appearance-based casting in Hollywood once again. She has spoken out for years about gender inequality and unrealistic beauty standards in the entertainment industry. She is still pushing for more women to be represented on-screen through the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
“Her experience shows how subjective casting decisions can be. Once told she wasn’t pretty enough to play a leading lady, the actress went on to build an award-winning career, and become one of the industry’s most respected voices for equality.
References
Entertainment Weekly – Quoted Geena Davis’ remarks on the Armchair Expert podcast, in which she claimed she lost the lead role in Fletch because she was deemed “not attractive enough,” and her comments about Chevy Chase.
The Independent – Confirmed details of Davis’ interview and more background info on the original casting process of Fletch.
Parade – Covered Davis’ take on playing supporting role of Larry and how it affected her early acting career.
The Guardian – Used to give some background information on Geena Davis’ later career achievements and her advocacy through the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
